Exclusive: Culture secretary announces first national youth strategy in 15 years to help vulnerable' generationYoung people have faced violent indifference" from the political establishment for decades, leaving them struggling to navigate a changing world, the culture secretary said as she announced the first national youth strategy in 15 years.In an interview with the Guardian, Lisa Nandy said young people today were the most digitally connected but also the most isolated generation, adding that more could be done to police online spaces under new laws. Continue reading...
Worcestershire council leader Jo Monk sent city councillor Ed Kimberley a cease and desist letter over his criticism of herThe leader of a Reform UK-run local authority has been criticised for an authoritarian" attempt to silence opposition after sending a legal threat to a Labour councillor, demanding he stops mentioning her name in public.Ed Kimberley, a Worcester city councillor, said he received the cease and desist letter from the leader of Worcestershire county council, Jo Monk, in late November. Continue reading...
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels clash with Congolese army and other groups as they march on strategic eastern townAbout 200,000 people have fled their homes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as Rwanda-backed rebels march on a strategic eastern town just days after Donald Trump hosted the Rwandan and Congolese leaders to proclaim peace.The UN said at least 74 people had been killed, mostly civilians, and 83 admitted to hospital with wounds from escalating clashes in the area in recent days. Continue reading...
by Angelique Chrisafis in Paris and agencies on (#721SX)
French first lady was filmed calling women who had disrupted Paris theatre show by Ary Abittan sales connes'French celebrities and politicians on the left have expressed outrage after Brigitte Macron was filmed using a derogatory and sexist slur to describe feminist protesters at a theatre show in Paris.A video filmed on Sunday showed France's first lady in discussion backstage at the Folies Bergere theatre in Paris with Ary Abittan, a French actor and comedian previously accused of rape, before a performance he was about to give. The previous night, feminist campaigners had disrupted his show with shouts of: Abittan, rapist!" Continue reading...
NHS Providers boss says those who are coughing and sneezing' should wear face coverings on public transportPeople experiencing flu or cold symptoms should wear a mask in public places as the UK grapples with a tidal wave" of illness, an NHS leader has said.Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said the country was facing a very nasty strain of flu" that had occurred earlier in the year than normal, and face coverings should be worn on public transport, as during the Covid pandemic. Continue reading...
This blog is now closed, you can read more UK political coverage hereBadenoch says the Tories will review the way the household benefit cap operates.This is a policy introduced by George Osborne when he was chancellor. It imposes a cap on the total amount a household can receive in benefits.We will review every circumstance in which benefits are currently paying more than work.We will undertake a full eview of the level and operation of the household benefit cap, which currently acts more like a sieve than a cap, because most people on benefits avoid it through one exemption or another. Continue reading...
Flood alerts issued across Britain while every county in Ireland under orange weather warningsFlights, trains and ferries were cancelled, motorists faced long delays and thousands of properties left without power across the UK and Ireland after Storm Bram brought heavy rain and strong winds.By Tuesday night, there were more than 300 flood warnings or alerts across the UK and sporting matches and festive events were cancelled because of the weather. Continue reading...
Kenny Alexander and Lee Feldman say regulator breached right to privacy during Entain bid for casino website 888Two gambling bosses facing criminal charges of bribery and fraud have begun a separate civil claim against the Gambling Commission, claiming the regulator breached their right to privacy when it intervened in their plan to take control of the online casino company 888.Kenny Alexander and Lee Feldman, the former chief executive and chair of the Ladbrokes and Coral owner, Entain, bought 6.5% of 888 Holdings in June 2023 via a vehicle called FS Gaming and proposed installing themselves at the top of the business, which also owned William Hill. Continue reading...
Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested in March amid White House's crackdown on foreign students' pro-Palestinian advocacyA federal judge has allowed a Tufts University student from Turkey to resume research and teaching while she deals with the consequences of having her visa revoked by the Trump administration, leading to six weeks of detention.Rumeysa Ozturk, a PhD student studying children's relationship to social media, was among the first people arrested as the Trump administration began targeting foreign-born students and activists involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy. She had co-authored an op-ed criticizing her university's response to Israel and the war in Gaza. Immigration enforcement officers took her away in an unmarked vehicle, in an encounter caught on video in March outside her Somerville residence. Continue reading...
by Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent and Camille Ro on (#721E9)
Press conference was expected to have been Venezuelan opposition leader's first public appearance in 11 monthsA press conference in Oslo with the Nobel peace prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader in hiding, has been cancelled, the Norwegian Nobel Institute has said, adding that it was in the dark" as to her whereabouts.Machado last appeared in public on 9 January at a demonstration in Caracas protesting against the inauguration of Nicolas Maduro for his third term as president. The press conference, traditionally held by the Nobel laureate on the eve of the award ceremony, had been expected to be the 58-year-old's first public appearance in 11 months. Continue reading...
The musician, who led the Grammy-winning band, had been receiving treatment for colon cancerRaul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of the genre-defying, Grammy-winning band the Mavericks, has died. He was 60.Malo died on Monday night, his wife, Betty Malo, posted on his Facebook page. He had been diagnosed with cancer. The frontman of the Mavericks had documented his health journey on social media since he disclosed in June 2024 that he was receiving treatment for colon cancer. Continue reading...
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine remained committed to a real peace' after US president hints he could walk away from KyivOh, and a little warning shot from EU's Kallas:If we go into the fight [of] pointing fingers, I mean, we can also point a lot of fingers [on] what is wrong in America, but this is not the way we work, we are not going to meddle with the internal affairs of other countries." Continue reading...
Ron DeSantis's legally dubious order designating Cair - and Muslim Brotherhood - follows similar move by TexasFlorida is declaring the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) - a US civil rights and liberties group - a foreign terrorist organization, the Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, announced on Monday.The move closely follows a similar order issued in November by Texas's governor, Greg Abbott, DeSantis's fellow Republican, even though only the federal government can designate terrorist organizations. Continue reading...
Records could be made public within 10 days under new Epstein Files Transparency ActThe justice department can publicly release investigative materials from a sex-trafficking case against Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime confidant of Jeffrey Epstein, a federal judge said on Tuesday.Judge Paul A Engelmayer ruled after the justice department in November asked two judges in New York to unseal grand jury transcripts and exhibits from Maxwell and Epstein's cases, along with investigative materials that could amount to hundreds or thousands of previously unreleased documents. Continue reading...
Public figures sign letter saying plan to reinterpret ECHR for asylum seekers is affront to us all' and a threat to securityThe actors Michael Palin, Stephen Fry and Joanna Lumley are among 21 well-known figures calling on Keir Starmer to drop plans to weaken human rights law and instead take a principled stand" for torture victims, on the eve of a crucial European summit.As David Lammy prepares to attend a Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg that will discuss legal changes to stop bogus asylum claims, the novelist Julian Barnes, the actor Adrian Lester and the comedian Aisling Bea have also signed a letter telling the prime minister: Any attempt at undermining universal protections is an affront to us all and a threat to the security of each and every one of us." Continue reading...
Forecasters warn of possible damage to buildings, power cuts and travel disruption with heavy rain and gusts reaching 90mphWe have some more updates on the disruptions caused by the weather conditions to train services in Scotland:Rail services between Fort William and Mallaig will be suspended from 4pm and between Dingwall and Kyle of Lochalsh from 5pm, due to the forecast extreme winds.We're already receiving lots of calls about incidents on roads across Devon and Cornwall this morning. Please only travel if absolutely necessary; drive at an appropriate speed and allow extra distance between other vehicles. Continue reading...
Men charged with robbery and administering noxious substance over incident at London airport on SundayTwo men have been charged with robbery and administering a noxious substance after more than 20 people were affected by what was thought to be pepper spray at Heathrow airport.Tyrone Richards, 31, and Anton Clarke-Butcher, 24, are due to appear at Uxbridge magistrates court on Tuesday. Continue reading...
Unauthorised touchdown comes less than 24 hours after Nigerian forces intervened in attempted coup in BeninEleven Nigerian military personnel are being held in Burkina Faso after a Nigerian plane reportedly entered Burkinabe airspace without authorisation on Monday, the latest twist in a region enmeshed in multiple political and security crises.In a statement on Monday evening, the breakaway Alliance of Sahel States (AES), of which Burkina Faso is a member alongside Mali and Niger, said the C-130 transport aircraft had made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso. Continue reading...
The 20,000-capacity venue will feed revenue back into smaller venues to nurture the next generation of breakthrough artists'London's O2 Arena, the UK's second-largest indoor concert venue, has announced it will donate a portion of proceeds from its concerts to grassroots gig venues across the country.The 20,000-capacity venue has partnered with the Music Venue Trust charity (MVT), which has been pushing for artists and arena operators to support the venues that often provide a space for musicians to hone their craft, before they hopefully step up to arena-level popularity. Continue reading...
Valerie Amos's investigation finds women let down and slow progress on reforms, with devastating consequences'Victims of NHS maternity failings received unacceptable care", leading to tragic consequences", the head of an investigation into maternity care in England has said.Changes within services have been too slow despite being necessary and urgent, according to a report by Valerie Amos, who is leading the national maternity and neonatal investigation (NMNI). Continue reading...
Each side has blamed the other for renewed clashes, which have derailed a ceasefire brokered by Donald TrumpDeadly clashes have escalated along the disputed Thailand-Cambodia border as both sides blamed each other for the fighting and vowed to defend their territories.Seven civilians have been killed and 20 wounded in Cambodia and three Thai soldiers have been killed in the fiercest fighting since a five-day conflict in July. Continue reading...
It's sure to leave many mortgage holders feeling short-changed given the RBA's equally historic 13 rate hikes through 2022 and 2023The Reserve Bank's governor, Michele Bullock, has effectively ruled out further rate cuts and flagged that hikes might be needed in 2026 if the recent inflationary rebound proves persistent.Speaking at a press conference after the widely expected decision to hold the cash rate at 3.6%, Bullock seemed surprisingly upbeat as she delivered the bad news to the roughly 3.3 million households with a mortgage. Continue reading...
Tech company has installed the advertising screens in hundreds of apartment blocks across 20 British citiesDigital billboards that can film viewers' responses to adverts have been installed in hundreds of apartment blocks, in a move that civil liberty campaigners called creepy as hell".The supplier, 30Seconds Group, says the cameras allow them to track occupant engagement" from residents who are a captive audience" as they wait for lifts to their apartments. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: As the 2026 tournament expands, questions are being asked about its new format, its environmental impact and whether Fifa is bending too many of its own rulesGood morning. Last week in Washington a lengthy and glitzy ceremony saw the draw taking place for the 2026 men's Fifa World Cup, the largest edition of the tournament to date, to be staged across the US, Mexico and Canada next June and July. It looks set to be a geopolitical showpiece for Donald Trump, reinforced by the ludicrous sight of him being awarded Fifa's inaugural peace prize. The football tournament will feature 48 teams, 12 groups and 104 matches, a huge expansion from the 32-team format in place since 1998.The draw didn't quite settle who is playing whom - the last six countries to qualify won't be announced until March. But England and Scotland know who they will face, and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland have a glimpse of what awaits them if they can steer their way through the Uefa playoffs next year.Politics | Police are looking at allegations that Reform UK breached electoral law during its campaign to win leader Nigel Farage's seat in Clacton at last year's general election. The party denies claims by a Reform ex-councillor that it falsely reported expenses at the Clacton constituency.Ukraine | European leaders rallied behind Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at 10 Downing Street on Monday night. There was no breakthrough on allowing Ukraine access to billions of pounds of frozen Russian assets but No 10 said positive progress" was made, with further talks expected on freeing up an initial 78bn to fund a loan.Royals | Prince Harry's UK security arrangements are reportedly to be reviewed after he wrote to the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, requesting a full security risk assessment.Venezuela | A US invasion or attack on Venezuela could plunge South America into a Vietnam-style" conflict, the chief foreign policy advisor to Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has warned.Football | The former England footballer Joey Barton has been sentenced to six months in custody, suspended for 18 months, over a series of offensive social media posts targeting pundits Lucy Ward, Eni Aluko and broadcaster Jeremy Vine. Barton was found guilty at Liverpool court in November. Continue reading...
Defeated Tory and Labour rivals describe force of Reform machine' as police assess claims of overspendingThe Tory and Labour candidates who Nigel Farage beat to win his Westminster seat of Clacton have described a Reform campaign that felt like a juggernaut", as police began assessing claims of overspending by the Reform UK leader.The candidates spoke after a former aide alleged that Reform UK falsely reported election expenses in Clacton, where Farage won in last year's general election. On Monday, Essex police said they were assessing a report of alleged misreported expenditure by a political party" after a referral from the Metropolitan police. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#72188)
Exclusive: Charity Commission chief condemns public hostility towards staff helping women and refugees and at places of worshipA surge in death and rape threats and harassment has created a culture of fear" at charities serving women and refugees, and at mosques, churches and synagogues, the head of the Charity Commission has warned.Mark Simms said he feared growing hostility towards charity staff, volunteers and beneficiaries, both online and on the streets, was becoming normalised and risked eroding civilised values and norms British society once took for granted. Continue reading...
President accuses neighbor of violating treaty governing water-sharing and urges water to be released immediately'Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 5% tariff on Mexico if it does not immediately provide additional water to help US farmers, accusing the country of violating a treaty that outlines water-sharing between the neighbors.Under the treaty, which dates back to 1944, Mexico must send 1.75m acre-feet of water to the US from the Rio Grande through a network of interconnected dams and reservoirs every five years. The agreement also stipulates that the United States must annually allocate 1.5m acre-feet of water from the Colorado River to Mexico. Continue reading...
The group were at a popular seawater pool when the wave struck, prompting a major rescue operationFour people are dead and one is missing after a powerful wave dragged a group of swimmers out to sea while they were in a popular seawater pool along the rocky, western coastline of the Spanish island of Tenerife, Spanish authorities said on Monday.Crews recovered three bodies on Sunday - a 35-year-old man, a 55-year-old woman and another man about whom no information was given - during a major rescue operation that used jet skis and helicopters to locate and pick up people dragged out to sea. The fourth victim, a woman, died on Monday, a day after being revived at the scene and airlifted to a hospital. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#7213P)
Livery for renationalised railway features red, white and blue alongside familiar double arrow symbolNo matter how much train fares cost under Great British Railways, no one can accuse the government of wasting money on an expensive redesign.The logo, branding and livery for the impending renationalised and reformed railway will be unveiled by ministers at London Bridge on Tuesday. It is red, white and, yes, blue. Continue reading...
UK foreign secretary urges action against information warfare' made easier by advances in technologyForeign countries are flooding social media with AI-manipulated videos to undermine western support for Ukraine, Yvette Cooper will warn on Tuesday.The UK foreign secretary will urge other countries to help Britain fight what she calls information warfare", as officials warn Russia is using forged documents and deepfake material to advance its geopolitical goals. Continue reading...
Extension comes after Kimmel's late-night show was suspended in September over comments on Charlie KirkJimmy Kimmel has signed a one-year extension with Disney's ABC Network and will continue to host Jimmy Kimmel Live! through at least 2027, the Guardian has confirmed.Bloomberg first reported the news on Monday, noting that Kimmel and Disney struck a new one year extension. His current contract had been set to expire in May 2026. Continue reading...
Eyal Zamir said Israel would hold on to current positions, giving it control of more than half of the territoryThe yellow line" that divides Gaza under Donald Trump's ceasefire plan is a new border" for Israel, the country's military chief told soldiers deployed in the territory.The chief of the general staff, Eyal Zamir, said Israel would hold on to its current military positions. These give Israel control of more than half of Gaza, including most agricultural land and the border crossing with Egypt. Continue reading...
by Peter Beaumont Senior international reporter on (#720ZY)
Former UK leader loses out on key role in transitional authority after objections from Arab and Muslim nationsTony Blair will not occupy a key position on Donald Trump's Gaza peace council" after Arab and Muslim nations were reported to have objected to the involvement of the former UK prime minister.According to the Financial Times (FT), Blair has been quietly dropped from consideration for Trump's board of peace", which Trump has said he would chair himself. Continue reading...
by Eleni Courea, Jennifer Rankin and Peter Beaumont on (#720ZZ)
Hopes rise of a breakthrough in using 78bn of frozen Russian assets to bankroll KyivEuropean leaders rallied behind Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday night amid hopes they might finally achieve a breakthrough to allow Ukraine access to billions of pounds of frozen Russian assets.Despite vociferous support for the Ukrainian president, who has come under heavy pressure from Donald Trump to cede territory in order to bring the war to a speedy end, there was still no agreement on the thorny question of turning immobilised assets into a loan for Kyiv. Continue reading...
by Libby Brooks Scotland correspondent on (#720WP)
Sandie Peggie wins harassment claim but tribunal dismisses allegations of discrimination and victimisationA nurse who complained about sharing a women's changing room with a transgender doctor has won part of her employment tribunal against NHS Fife but her claim against the doctor in question was dismissed.Sandie Peggie, who has worked as a nurse for more than 30 years, contended she was subject to unlawful harassment under the Equality Act when she was expected to share a changing room with Dr Beth Upton. Continue reading...
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